2014 Inductees

ENCOURAGING OSTERING F PROMOTING 24TH ANNUAL HALL OF FAME FESTIVAL 2014 INDUCTEES NORTHWEST WESTERN SWING MUSIC SOCIETY CELEBRATING 30 YEARS 1983— 2014 Welcome Dear Friends and Western Swing Fans: Welcome to the 24th annual Northwest Western Swing Music Society Hall of Fame induction ceremony. This annual event is our way of recognizing both those musicians whom we feel have made an outstanding contribution to Western Swing music and other worthy individuals who have helped promote and preserve Western Swing music. We thank you for coming and appreciate your support in our efforts to preserve and perpetuate this uniquely American music genre. It is our privilege to carry on this legacy handed down to us through the years by giants in the music business, too numerous to list here. Sincerely, Jerry Seitz, President Northwest Western Swing Music Society What is Western Swing Music . In 1934, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Bob Wills organized his band from musicians that performed mostly rural, country music. He then added horns and drums to the mix. They took the big band sound, added fiddles and guitars to it and developed a style of music called Western Swing. As Truitt Cunningham will tell you, “Western Swing is the first cousin to Dixieland Jazz, second cousin to Big Band Swing, third cousin to the Blues and fourth cousin to Country with a little Mexican music mixed in . so, there is a little something everyone will enjoy.” About the Northwest Western Swing Music Society . The Seattle Western Swing Music Society (“the Society”) was formed in November, 1983, by Western Swing music enthusiasts who were concerned that this form of music was in danger of “dying out,” as the older performers were, one by one, passing on and there were no younger players to take their place. At that time, the Society was named the Seattle Western Swing Society, a non-profit organization whose purpose was and still is to Preserve, Promote, and Perform Western Swing Music. As the Society grew, the name was changed to include the many outlying areas of the Northwest. Monies generated by the club strictly pay for operating expenses and donations to deserving charities. A scholarship program has been established and several promising young players have been awarded tuition to music camps and for personal instruction. Each member of the Society pays yearly dues of $20.00/person, $25.00 per couple. A monthly newsletter is sent to members apprising them of the state of the Society, upcoming local and national functions, etc. IN DEDICATION TO THE MANY MEMBERS OF OUR WESTERN SWING FAMILY WHO HAVE PASSED ON DURING THIS LAST YEAR. REMEMBRANCES IN THEIR NAMES MAY BE MADE TO THE NWWSMS MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND. 2014 Hall of Fame Inductees Ed Bischoff - Washington Billy Bowles - Texas Tink Carriker - California Floyd Domino - Texas Randy “Tex” Hill - Oregon Kenneth Dee Jones - Oklahoma Carolyn Martin - Tennessee B.B. Morse - Texas Chris O’Connell - California Jimmy Queen - Missouri Starla Queen - Missouri Lucy Dean Record - Texas Grady Smith - Texas Red Steagall - Texas Durwood Strube - Texas Albert Talley - Texas Plus the first “Roadie of the Year” Award will be given to: Tony Graziano - California Ed Bischoff was born in Rugby, North Dakota, and moved to Portland, Oregon, when he was 18. Ed joined the Army when he was 20 and served three years, receiving two Purple Hearts, from the Korean War conflict. We thank you for your service, Ed. Through it all, he was a consummate music lover and attended all of the dances, shows and concerts when they came to town. He had taken an early interest in Western Swing history and loved to gather historical background information about the performers and their recordings. He and his friends would travel all over the countryside to see such greats as Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, Billy Jack Wills, T. Texas Tyler, Hank Thompson and Kitty Wells, as well as any other band performing in the region. Ed moved to Seattle in 1960 and continued to attend music venues throughout the Pacific Northwest and increase his knowledge of Western Swing. He became a regular attendee of the Seattle Western Swing Music Society’s (now known as the Northwest Western Swing Music Society’s) monthly showcases. Ed and Lou were married in 1996. This was the beginning of Ed’s direct involvement of Event staging. Ed assisted Lou with her duties in the Seattle Society in addition to taking on responsibilities of his own. Ed is a walking Encyclopedia of Western Swing knowledge and experiences. He was elected to the governing Board and appointed as Historian due to his extensive knowledge of Western Swing and his vast collection of materials related to Bob Wills and other Western Swing luminaries. Ed works behind the scenes, without fanfare, to keep things running smoothly at the Society’s events. Ed gives tirelessly to support the music he loves so dearly, from opening up his home for an annual Western Swing picnic every summer, to being actively involved in organizing, setting up and breaking down after the monthly showcases as well as the annual Western Swing festival and Hall of Fame. In addition, Ed strives to make all of the musical participants in Western Swing feel welcome and appreciated. There is always a compliment on a performance well done with a handshake or hug to express his appreciation. Recognized for his passion for the music called Western Swing, hard work and diligence to the Society, Ed was inducted into the Sacramento and Kansas Western Swing Music Societies in 2005. Ed has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada to attend Western Swing events, embracing diverse communities of performers, fans and societies across the country. He continues promoting Western Swing music, helping to ensure that it will remain alive and well for future generations. ED BISCHOFF Billy likes to say, “I was born in Texas, raised in Texas and, when I die, bury me in Texas!” He is a proud Texan and so proud that Western Swing has been made the official music of the State of Texas. Billy grew up in Sundown, Texas, near Lubbock. His father was an oilfield worker, driving a hot oil truck. His mother was a homemaker. Billy’s dad was a huge fan of all the country music TV shows. That’s where Billy believes it all started for him. By 5th grade, Billy was sneaking his transistor radio to bed, plugging in the earphone and listening to Bill Mack, The Midnight Cowboy, and his Open Road Show on WBAP in Fort Worth. He learned a lot listening to Bill Mack as well as the original KDAV station in Lubbock and later, Larry Scott. On Billy’s 14th birthday, his parents gave him two record sets. Each set had three albums. One set was Hank Williams, Sr. The other was Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. Billy was hooked. When he was 16 he began going to the dance halls. On the average, he danced to Hoyle Nix & His West Texas Cowboys twice a week. He could not get enough. Billy credits Hoyle Nix as much as Bob Wills for growing his love of Western Swing. After a stint in the Army, Billy began traveling to Turkey, Texas, each year for their Bob Wills Day celebration. It was 13 years before he missed one. Billy’s love of dancing and listening to real, traditional country and Western Swing music just continued to grow. One afternoon in early April 2011, Billy received a call from Dave Walker, owner of KJDL in Lubbock. Dave knew Billy was a huge fan of country music. Dave was about to make some changes on the Classic Country side of his radio stations and wanted to know if Billy had any thoughts about it. They met for lunch a few days later. Billy voiced his concerns that no one in the Lubbock or South Plains area was playing or promoting today’s Independent Artists - those who play real, traditional country music, Western Swing, honkytonk and country gospel. Dave thought for a few moments and said, “You’re right. We need a show. And, I want you to host it!” Just that fast Billy had a show without realizing he was being interviewed. He never dreamed of being a DJ and is certain that God put this in his path. Billy has always loved playing the music and promoting the artists. Now he carries his passion to an even larger audience through radio and, recently, the Internet. In 2013, Billy received the Disc Jockey of the Year award from the Academy of Western Artists. Now, in 2014, he is being recognized by the Northwest Western Swing Music Society. He truly appreciates the support shown for his efforts. BILLY BOWLES Tink Cariker was born in Western Swing territory. She learned to dance to Western Swing music and it was the only music she knew until she left Texas and moved to California. She rediscovered it in late 1986 when she read an article in the Sacramento Bee about the Western Swing Society, Loyd and Perry Jones, and the Texas Saloon. She immediately joined the Society, becoming a board member in 1987. She has served the Society in various capacities over the years: Secretary, Treasurer, Scholarship Chairman, Hall of Fame Chairperson, Membership Director, and Newsletter Editor. She served with nine Society Presidents: Loyd Jones, Perry Jones, Juanita Albright, March Krock, Warren Mayhew, Sandy Roland, Dean Moore (a former Bob Wills Texas Playgirl), Charlie Hull, and Bill Enyeart. During Dean's Presidency, Tink and Dean attended and supported Western Swing events in Texas and Oklahoma; Dean as a performer, and both as Ambassadors for the Sacramento Western Swing Society.

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